Mr. Speaker, from the 14th to the 24th of July 2001, Canada will welcome more than 3,000 international performers and athletes to the Ottawa-Hull region, for the IV Francophone Games.
The Francophone Games are a unique international sports and cultural event open to the citizens of the 49 countries that are part of La Francophonie. Athletes from several nations representing various cultures and speaking different languages will get together in a friendly spirit of competition and will have an opportunity to display their artistic and athletic talents.
I encourage all members of the House to share in this excitement. When crossing the interprovincial bridge connecting Ottawa to Hull look up and see the countdown panel. As of today it is 996 days away.